Activated carbon absorber

ABSTRACT

An activated carbon absorber, in particular an activated carbon absorber for use by a user of an externally ventilated breathing mask or breathing hood. The activated carbon absorber includes a housing for accommodating a filter cartridge, and the housing has the following features: an air inlet supply port to receive compressed air from an air-supply unit; a connector for connecting to a breathing mask or hood; a unit which can be fastened to the body of or to or on the housing of the activated carbon absorber and which is capable of forming a detachable connection with another component in particular a sliding or slip connection.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an activated carbon absorber, inparticular an activated carbon absorber for use by a user of anexternally ventilated breathing mask or breathing hood.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND Technical Background

During lacquering processes carried out by means of spray guns operatedwith pressurized air and with the use of solvents, it is unavoidablethat a so-called “overspray” is produced. This means that the operatingspace is contaminated with an unusual amount of paint or lacquerdroplets, which is also very detrimental to the human body. For thisreason, health protection is needed for the worker. Breathing masks,which preferably can be secured over the entire head and in particularin front of the entire facial area of the worker, are excellently suitedfor this purpose and they offer a maximum of health protection. Suchbreathing masks are usually supplied with pressurized air independentlyof the environmental air. For this purpose, pressurized air is generallyfirst supplied to an air preparation system, which, first system,comprises a single-stage or multi-stage filter system. The filtered airis then supplied via a pressurized air hose to a waist band or hip beltwhich, as a rule, is provided with at least one additional airpreparation module. An air preparation module can be an activated carbonabsorber; another air preparation module can be an air heater or an airmoisturizer. By means of the activated carbon absorber module, undesiredvapors and gases which may still be contained in the pressurized air canbe removed. And, by means of an air heater module and/or an airmoisturizer module, additional advantages for health and wellbeing canbe achieved. An additional advantageous embodiment consists of fasteningan air regulation and distribution module on the waist band or hip belt.The entire structure is usually referred to as belt unit. Such anadvantageous belt unit for use with a breathing hood is known under theproduct name “Vision 2000” from the SATA GmbH & Co. KG.

Today, the users of breathing systems make increased demands for theprovision of a guarantee of occupational protection and for userfriendliness. On the other hand, the manufacturers and suppliers wantproducts that can be produced as easily as possible, assembled easily,and if necessary, disassembled again easily.

Problem of the Invention

The problem of the invention is to provide a possibility showing how theabove-mentioned problems can be solved.

Solution of the Problem of the Invention

The problem of the invention is solved by an activated carbon unithaving the features of claim 1. The housing of the activated carbonabsorber module according to the invention can be fitted, mounted,installed, handled, and disassembled easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended drawings form part of the present description and areprovided for a better understanding of the present invention. Theyillustrate possible embodiments of the present invention and are used toexplain the principles of the present invention together with thedescription. In the appended drawings, identical components are markedwith identical reference numerals.

The following is represented in the drawings:

FIG. 1A illustrates the front part of the activated carbon absorberaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates the rear side of the activated carbon absorberaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A shows an assembly drawing of the activated carbon absorberaccording to an embodiment of the present invention with its fasteningunit;

FIG. 2B shows an additional view of the assembly drawing;

FIG. 3A further illustrates the fastening unit;

FIG. 3B shows another view of the fastening unit;

FIG. 4 shows the fastening of the activated carbon absorber in a hipbelt;

FIG. 5 shows the view of the removal of the activated carbon absorberfrom the hip belt;

FIGS. 6A to 6E show the activated carbon absorber in five differentrotational angle positions according to an embodiment example of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 shows the hip belt separately; and,

FIG. 8 shows a particularly preferable embodiment of the activatedcarbon absorber according to the present invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is to be understood in reference tothe drawings, which form a part of the description and which show anexemplary representation of the possibilities that the invention offers.In the drawings, indications of direction, such as, at the top, at thebottom, inner and outer should be understood in reference to thedrawings described. Components of the embodiments of the invention canbe arranged in several different directions, so that the indications ofdirection are used only for illustration and thus do not imply anylimits. The description should also be understood to the effect thatother embodiments can be selected, and structural or logicalmodifications are based on the premise that they are allowed inaccordance with the scope of the invention. Therefore, the followingdetailed description should not be understood as a limitation. It isunderstood that features of the different embodiments described here canbe combined with one another, if there are no special notes to thecontrary.

The activated carbon absorber 100 according to the invention is intendedfor use by a user of an externally ventilated breathing mask orbreathing hood.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the activated carbon absorber 100 according tothe invention comprises a filter cartridge 101, which is arranged in aspecial housing 2, 3. The housing 2, 3 is composed of two hollow halfspheres or half shells 2 and 3. The half shells 2, 3 are connected toone another along a seam line 300. The connection can be a detachable orundetachable connection. Clipping, gluing or welding connections arepossible.

The half spheres or shells 2, 3 each are provided on two mutually facingsides with a relatively large opening 103, one of which enables theinsertion and removal of an activated carbon-containing component 101,and the other enables the insertion and removal of a device fortemperature compensation. Each opening 103 can be closed with a screwcap 104. In other designs, in which no device for temperaturecompensation or another module is to be inserted into the housing 2, 3of the activated carbon absorber, a single opening 103 is sufficient inprinciple.

In the represented preferred embodiment of the invention, the activatedcarbon is accommodated in a filter cartridge 101, which is designed inthe form of a pipe and, in particular, a straight cylindrical pipe. Thecarbon particles are accommodated in the walls of the pipe 101, whichare closed at their ends. The outer diameter of the pipe 101 is slightlysmaller than the diameter of the openings 103, and the length of thepipe 101 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the two housing halfspheres or shells 2, 3 of the housing. Therefore, the pipe 101 can beinserted without problem into the openings 103.

In a preferred variant not represented in the drawings, the pipe 101 isprovided at one of its two ends with a closure plate, which issubstantially adjusted to the measurements of one of the two openings103 in the housing 2, 3 of the activated carbon absorber 100 in such amanner that the opening 103 can be closed by the closure plate. Theclosure plate can have protrusions and/or recesses as handling and/orfastening means, such as, for example, a thread that can work togetherwith a thread on the opening 103 and/or on the screw cap 104.

In the particularly preferred embodiment represented in FIG. 8, into thehollow space 1011 in the pipe 101, a device for temperaturecompensation, or an air heater/air cooler module 102 can be introduced,if desired. In the case of the presence of the temperature compensationdevice 102, the breathing air reaches the worker at a comfortabletemperature for the worker, which he/she selected to be warm in thewinter, to avoid catching a cold. In summer, the worker can select theair temperature to be cooler to reduce perspiration.

As further indicated in FIG. 8, the temperature compensation device 102comprises a cylindrical hollow body 106 made of a plastic with a hot airchannel 1042 and with a cold air channel 1040, wherein the channels 1042and 1040 adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction of the hollowbody 106 and are in fluidic connection.

The inner diameter of the hot air channel 1042 is designed to be smallerthan that of the cold air channel 1040; and the length of the hot airchannel 1042 is substantially greater than the length of the cold airchannel 1040. In the present embodiment example, the hot air channel1042 is approximately four times as long as the cold air channel 1040.

Around the central axis of the body 106, in the radial direction, an airguiding element or air deflecting element extends over a large portionof the entire length of the hot air channel 1042. However, the airdeflecting element can also be arranged in another suitable form. In thepresent embodiment example, the air guiding element also has a so-calledstar. On the cold air channel 1040, as an air guiding element, acircular disk-shaped air swirling element 141 is arranged, inparticular, molded to form a single piece. The inner diameter of the airswirling element 141 is approximately twice as large as that of the coldair channel 1040. The air swirling element 141 is provided in theinterior with several vortex elements, which extend in a radialdirection around the central axis of the body 106, wherein each vortexelement is hollow. In the preferred embodiment, the air swirling element141 ends in an annular plate 144 [not shown in Figures] which, in thedepicted preferred embodiment, is not attached on the cold air channel1040, but on the hot air channel 1042, in particular formed on thischannel 1042 so as to form a single piece. The annular plate 144 has aslightly smaller diameter than the cylindrical wall of the air swirlingelement 141. The hot air channel 1042 and the cold air channel 1040 areconnected to one another in the area of the annular plate 144; in thepresent embodiment example, they are simply inserted in one another andthey hold with press fit. With a view to achieving particularly goodheating and cooling action, the inner diameter of the air swirlingelement 141 is approximately twice that of the hot air channel 1042. Theprinciple of operation of the temperature compensation device accordingto the invention corresponds to a vortex or vortex pipe principle, andtherefore, does not need to be explained in further detail. The depictedand described length/diameter ratios of hot air channel 1042 and coldair channel 1040, in the total body 102, in any case ensure anappropriate air temperature compensation for human use.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided to fasten theactivated carbon absorber 100 via a special fastening element 4 andsubsequently via a special adapter 15 on the hip belt 200. Such afastening type brings the activated carbon absorber 100 in the vicinityof one of the hands of the user, and thus, considerably increases usercomfort.

The housing 2, 3 which can be seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 4 and 5differs indeed in terms of contour and certain details from the housing2, 3 shown in FIG. 8. However, essential details are in agreement, andtherefore the invention is also described below in reference to thisembodiment example.

The housing 2, 3 of this of the housing of the activated carbon absorberas well accordingly comprises a first half shell 2 and a second halfshell 3. The two activated carbon absorbers, i.e., the activated carbonabsorber according to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 4 and 5, as well as the oneaccording to FIG. 8, can be attached via their housing 2, 3 by means ofthe same fastening unit 4 to a hip belt 200 and removed again therefromas needed.

The activated carbon absorber 100 is provided with an air inletconnector 7 through which pressurized air can be introduced from anexternal pressurized air supply into the activated carbon absorber 100.A connector 6 for a hose or the like, which leads to a breathing mask orhood, is arranged on the same side of the housing 2, 3 as the air inletconnector 7, but above this air inlet connector 7. Moreover, a port 9 isarranged on the other side of the activated carbon absorber 100, whichleads to the discharge of the pressurized air via a hose or the like toa pressurized air-operated hand tool, such as a paint spray gun. On thesame side as this port 9, but above it, a regulator 8 is located, whichis used to be able to set the pressure of the air leading to thebreathing mask or hood. For safety reasons, the regulator 8 isconfigured in such a manner that the activated carbon absorber 100always delivers air at a predetermined pressure to the breathing mask orhood, even if the regulator 8 is set to “minimal.”

The connector 6 for the connection to the breathing mask or hood and/orthe air inlet port 9 for the paint gun can be closed when the activatedcarbon absorber 100 is not in use by means of a blind cover or the like,if desired.

Preferably, the activated carbon absorber 100 can be connected to apressure display (not represented in the figures).

In a preferred embodiment, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2A, 2A and8, the second half shell 3 of the activated carbon absorber 100 isprovided with a holder 5, which can be folded down or rotated, on whichthe spray gun or the breathing air hose can be held, when the spray gunor the respiration mask or hood is not used. As shown in FIG. 2B, afirst arm of the holder 5, formed here with two arms, is fastened on theactivated carbon absorber 100 by means of a screw 11. The other, secondarm of the holder 5 is hinged to the first arm and is otherwisefreestanding. It can be twisted relative to the activated carbonabsorber 100.

As indicated in FIG. 2A, the second arm of the holder 5 can be rotatedin an angle between 20° and 90°, preferably in an angle of 70°.Furthermore, a first locking element 52, preferably a magnet, isprovided at the free end of the second arm of the holder 5. The lockingelement 52 works together with a second locking element (preferably witha magnet), which is provided on the activated carbon absorber 100. Inthe present embodiment example, the second locking element is fastenedon the holder 5 in the area of a plate seat 51, which is provided on theupper non-free end of the first arm of the holder 5. In summary, in theretracted position when not in use, the holder 5 can be held securely onthe activated carbon absorber 100. And, preferably, as shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B, a deepened groove 31 is made into the second half shell 3 of thehousing. The groove 31 is adjusted dimensionally to the holder 5 so thatthe second arm, in the retracted position, lies flush in the groove 31,except for a handle 500 on the upper end.

FIGS. 3A and 3B each illustrate the fastening unit 4 of the activatedcarbon absorber 100 in a front view and in a back view. The fasteningunit 4 comprises connection elements 41, 42, which are suitable forconnecting the first half shell 2 of the housing of the activated carbonabsorber 100 to an adapter 15 which is part of a hip belt 200 (see FIG.4).

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first connection element 41 of thefastening unit 4, which in the present embodiment example is ofsubstantially oval design, has two hollow protrusions 411, which arearranged at the top and at the bottom on the connection element 41 andwhich protrude in the direction of the first half shell 2 of the housingof the activated carbon absorber. A fastening bore 412 is embedded ineach protrusion 411. The first half shell 2 comprises correspondingfastening holes, into which the protrusions 411 can be inserted. Asfurther shown in FIG. 3B, screws 11 are used, which engage through theplate seats 51 located at the top and at the bottom on the first arm ofthe holder 5 through fastening holes 53 made there, and subsequentlythrough fastening holes in the first half shell 2 and in the second halfshell 3 of the housing of the activated carbon absorber 100. On theprotrusions 411, the fastening unit 4 is fastened by means of bolts 12.In order to achieve a particularly secure fastening, bolt seats 413 forscrews or the like are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3B, two sliding slots 421 are provided on the adapterarea 42 of the fastening element 4. The adapter area 42 is circular inoutline. An abutment contact 422 protrudes from the peripheral surfaceof the adapter area 42 away from the upper side of the adapter area 42.Two parallel protrusions 421 b, which protrude close to the center ofthe adapter 42 from the circular surface, in each case represent theupper side of an inner wall 421 a for one of the two sliding slots 421.For this purpose, the connection between the activated carbon absorber100 to a hip belt 200 can be accomplished in the manner according to theinvention.

The hip belt 200 indicated in FIGS. 10 and 11 comprises a waist band 13which is provided with a cushion 14 on an inner side. On an outer side,the waist band 13 is provided with an adapter 15 for the fastening unit4 of the activated carbon absorber 100.

The adapter 15 comprises a support plate 151, by the support plate 151supported a fastening plate 152 and a release mechanism 153. On theadapter 15 two guide rails 1521 are provided, which are adjusted interms of position and shape to the two sliding slots 421 on the adapterarea 42 of the fastening element 4. An abutment element 1522 connectsthe two guide rails 1521 at their lower ends; the abutment 1522 and thetwo guide rails 1521 thus are essentially “U” shaped. Each guide rail1521 comprises a rib 1521 a, which projects from the fastening plate152. The two ribs 1521 a are arranged on the fastening plate 152 alongthe longitudinal direction of the waist band 13 and they extend parallelto one another along the broad direction of the waist band 13. The upperportion of each rib 1521 a is provided with a protrusion 1521 b whichprojects outward in the longitudinal direction of the waist band. Eachprotrusion 1521 b defines, on the fastening plate 152, a guide or clampfor the sliding slots 421 on the adapter area 42 of the fasteningelement 4.

The release mechanism 153 has a single-arm lever 153 a and a handle 153b which is connected to the lever 153 a. As shown in FIG. 10, the lever153 a lies in a recess of the upper portion of the fastening plate 152.The lever 153 a is produced from a relatively flexible material and cantherefore be deformed when pressure is exerted on the handle 153 b. Inthe present embodiment example, the lever 153 a is produced to form asingle piece with the fastening plate 152 and cut out of this plate 152.The handle 153 b is molded on the upper end of the lever 153 a so as toform a single piece. The upper surface of the handle 153 b, in thepresent embodiment example, is greater than the surface of the lever, asa result of which an abutment surface 153 c is formed between the handle153 b and the lever 153 a.

FIG. 4 shows in further detail how the activated carbon absorber 100 canbe fastened via the adapter area 42 of the fastening element 4 on thehip belt 200 via its adapter 15 and detached again therefrom. The guiderails 1521 of the fastening plate 152 of the adapter 15 can, after acorresponding alignment, be introduced by means of a downward directedpressure into the sliding slots 421 of the adapter area 42 of thefastening unit 4. Since the protrusions 421 b of the sliding slots 421and the protrusions 1521 b of the guide rails 1521 then engage into oneanother, the activated carbon absorber 100 is securely fastened on thehip belt 200. The abutment element 1522 on the adapter 15 limits thesliding movements downward, so that an undesired lowering of theactivated carbon absorber 100 is prevented. The upper end of theabutment contact 422 on the fastening unit 4 prevents that the abutmentsurface 153 c of the release mechanism 153 of the adapter 15 comes inundesirable contact with the activated carbon absorber 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, the removal of the activated carbon absorber 100from the hip belt 200 can be carried out in a simple way. By bringingthe abutment contact 422 in contact on the fastening unit 4 and theabutment surface 153 c of the lever 153 a by pressing the handle 153 bin arrow direction 1 (FIG. 4), i.e., toward the support of the hip belt200, the release mechanism 153 is triggered, and the activated carbonabsorber 100 can be removed by an upward movement in arrow direction 2(FIG. 5).

Although the embodiment example describes and shows only an example withsliding slots 421 on the adapter area 42 of the fastening element 4 andguide rails 152 on the adapter 15 of the hip belt 200, it is possible,on the other hand, to provide sliding slots on the adapter guide railson the fastening unit. Other types of sliding or shifting movements orany other detachable connection, such as clip-on or snap-on connectionsare also possible.

As also shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the adapter 42 and the fastening unit41 of the fastening unit 4 are connected by a thin hexagonal nut 43 anda screw 44. Since the adapter 42 is connected to the connection element41, can relative to turn one another the activated carbon absorber 100(or another module fastened on the fastening unit 4) can be rotated withrespect to the hip belt 200 (see FIGS. 6A to 6E of the precedingembodiment example). This contributes to further increasing the comfortfor the operator.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 8, the activated carbonabsorber 100 is provided with a color code system disk 10 (CCS Disc). Inthe present embodiment example, a circular recess is embedded on theupper side of the housing 2, 3 of the activated carbon absorber 100,into which the circular color code disk 10, which is also round, can beclipped.

Various activated carbon absorbers 100 can be personalized with a colorcode system disk 10 of different color. Or, in this way, differentactivated carbon absorbers can be associated with different breathingmasks or hoods in a simple way. Other fastening types and color codesystem forms are naturally possible.

The use of marks other than color code disks is naturally possible. Bymeans of the marks, the security of breathing devices is in any casefurther improved.

Preferably, all the elements or partial elements of the activated carbonabsorber 100 are made of plastic. In another possible embodiment, thetwo half shells 2, 3 of the housing can have different colors. When thecolors of the half shells are adjusted to the colors of the hip belt orof the adapter 15, assembly errors can be almost excluded out.

In a further design of the invention, a connection to the activatedcarbon absorber can occur at several sites on the hip belt. Preferably,two sites should be selected, which are later located on the left sideand on the right side of the hip of the user when the hip belt is wornby the user. The activated carbon absorber can then be switched from oneside to the other, as a result of which the belt unit can be used byleft handed and right handed persons without problem.

Finally, it is emphasized again that the above represents only preferredembodiments of the present invention, but that the present invention isin no way limited thereto. For the person skilled in the art in thisfield, the present invention can have different variants andmodifications.

All the modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements that fallwithin the spirit and the principle of the present invention should becovered by the scope of protection.

1. An activated carbon absorber comprising a housing for accommodating afilter cartridge the housing including: an air inlet port, to receivecompressed air from an air supply unit; a connector for connection to abreathing mask or hood; and, a unit fastenable to the body of or to oron the housing of the activated carbon absorber and detachablyconnectable with another component.
 2. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided on two mutuallyfacing sides in each case with an opening that enables insertion of thefilter cartridge.
 3. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 1,wherein the housing consists of two hollow half spheres or half shells.4. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 2, wherein theopening is closable, in particular closable by a screw cap.
 5. Theactivated carbon absorber according to claim 1, wherein the filtercartridge is formed as a pipe.
 6. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 5, wherein carbon particles are located in interiorof the walls of the pipe, and an air heater and/or air cooler module canbe inserted into the hollow space of the pipe.
 7. The activated carbonabsorber according to claim 6, wherein the filter cartridge can beintroduced into one of the two openings and the air heater and/or aircooler module into the other of the two openings.
 8. The activatedcarbon absorber according to claim 1, wherein the adapter can beslidingly connected with one or more sliding slots to correspondingguide rails of another component.
 9. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 8, wherein at least one protrusion is present, whichcan be held by clamping or hold by clamping.
 10. The activated carbonabsorber according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured so asto rotate.
 11. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 10,wherein the housing is configured to be engaged on an adapter in severalpositions of rotation angles.
 12. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 11, wherein an adapter is provided with an abutmentcontact, which can block an abutment contact of another component, afterthe adapter is slidingly connected to the other component.
 13. Theactivated carbon absorber according to claim 1, wherein the activatedcarbon absorber is provided with a holder.
 14. The activated carbonabsorber according to claim 13, wherein the holder is pivotablyfastened, at least in some areas, relative to the housing.
 15. Theactivated carbon absorber according to claim 14, wherein the pivot angleis between 20° and 90°.
 16. The activated carbon absorber according to15, wherein the pivot angle is 70°.
 17. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 14, wherein a locking element is fixed at a free endof the holder and a corresponding locking element is fixed on thehousing, so that the free end is locked on the housing, when the holderis folded.
 18. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 17,wherein the locking elements are magnets.
 19. The activated carbonabsorber according to claim 1, wherein the activated carbon absorber isconnected to a pressure display.
 20. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 1, wherein the activated carbon absorber comprises aport for connection to a pressurized air-operated hand tool, such as apaint spray gun, or the like.
 21. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 1, wherein the activated carbon absorber comprises amarking element.
 22. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 1,wherein the housing of the activated carbon absorber is produced fromplastic.
 23. The activated carbon absorber, according to claim 1 incombination with a belt unit.
 24. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 23, wherein the belt unit comprises at least oneadapter capable of forming a detachable sliding connection with theactivated carbon absorber and/or with a fastening unit.
 25. Theactivated carbon absorber according to claim 24, wherein the belt unitcomprises a release mechanism for the activated carbon absorber and/orfor the fastening unit.
 26. The activated carbon absorber according toclaim 24, wherein at least one guide rail and at least one abutment partare provided.
 27. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 24,wherein at least one guide groove and at least one abutment part areprovided.
 28. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 24,wherein at least one securing surface is present.
 29. The activatedcarbon absorber according to claim 25, wherein the release mechanism isa lever mechanism.
 30. The activated carbon absorber according to claim29, wherein the lever is connected to the adapter.
 31. The activatedcarbon absorber according to claim 30, wherein the lever is one-armedand cut out of an area of the adapter.
 32. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 30, wherein the lever is produced from a flexiblematerial.
 33. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 29,wherein the lever comprises a handle.
 34. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 33, wherein at least one abutment surface is presentbetween the lever and the handle.
 35. The activated carbon absorberaccording to claim 24, wherein by bringing an abutment contact intocontact with the fastening unit and the abutment surface of the lever bypressing of the handle, the release mechanism is triggered, and theactivated carbon absorber can be removed from the belt unit.
 36. Theactivated carbon absorber according to claim 24, wherein the activatedcarbon absorber on the side with the fastening unit is supported on acushion.
 37. The activated carbon absorber according to claim 24,wherein a connection to the activated carbon absorber can occur atseveral sites.